Claimed

Epilogue: The Nest

Ezra's POV:

Rain pelted down on the newspaper I held over my head. I was going to throw it away, anyway. Not interested in reading another article about whether or not supernaturals could be trusted.

My worn shoes pounded on the wet pavement, creating a splash with every step. Warm light filtered through the giant front windows of a pizza parlor. Passing by was the plan, but I paused under their awning. Taped to the inside of the window and facing out to the street was a piece of paper. Printed on that paper was two circles, overlapping each other. One circle was a bright, vibrant purple, and the other a pale blue.

I'd read about those. Symbols human and supernatural businesses alike were putting outside their store to let people know it was a safe place for you, no matter what you were. The rain came down harder, enough it was more like I was under a waterfall than an awning.

Sighing, I stuffed the newspaper in the trashcan outside then walked in, wiping my feet at the door. A rotund man behind the counter glanced up from the phone he had braced against the cash register. "Bad out there?"

Approaching the counter, I stuffed my hands in my hoodie pockets. "Coming down hard."

"What can I get ya?" He asked, jerking his head back toward the red and white menu behind him.

Mentally calculating how much money I had left from that rogue hunt after I'd bought the new jacket I was wearing, I decided I could stand a bite. Especially if I was going to ask for a favor.

"Can I just get a slice of pepperoni?" I asked, sliding cash across the counter. "And water, please."

"You got it," he said, accepting the cash and eying me. "You a shifter?"

I tensed. "What gave it away?"

"Tend to be bigger, and the eyes," he said, gesturing to his own eyes. "Not a problem, just a comment."

I nodded, unsure what else to say. He put my order in and got my change, sliding it across to me. I pushed it back. "Keep it. You have a phone I could borrow?"

He eyed me again, then eventually shrugged and nodded. Pushing an old, wired phone towards me, he braced an elbow on the counter. "New in town?"

"Something like that."

"First time in New York?" I nodded. He chuckled. "Welcome to the city."

"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing the phone and angling away from him. He took the hint and moved into the back while I took in a long breath before dialing *67 before dialing the number. This number would be blocked on her end. She wouldn't be able to see where I called from.

Bringing the phone to my ear, my heart pounded as it rang over and over. Just when I thought no one would answer, her voice came through the other side. "Hello?"

A lump in my throat stopped me from speaking. I hadn't seen her in so long. Almost a year, to be exact. I couldn't imagine she was happy with me. I just couldn't go back until I got what I came here for. I couldn't even fucking think straight. Not until I got where I needed to be.

Clearing my throat, I brought the receiver closer to my mouth. "Soph?"

Silence. Silence wasn't as bad the cracking in her voice. "Ezra?"

"Ezra?" Darius's voice was clear in the background and I briefly said a prayer for myself as I heard shuffling, clattering and then Darius's voice so loud, I had to pull the phone away. "Ezra, where the fuck are you??"

"Don't yell at him," Sophie growled. Another shuffle and then her voice was back. "Ezra? Are you okay?"

Are you okay? Anyone else could ask me that and it wasn't a problem. But Sophia had always been a sister to me and I couldn't lie to her. My eyes stung and the lump in my throat got bigger. "No."